4 Best Tips to Prevent Personal Fraud
In today’s digital world, protecting yourself from fraud is more important than ever. Scammers and hackers are constantly finding new ways to steal your personal information, but with a few proactive steps, you can safeguard your finances and personal data. Here are the four best tips to prevent personal fraud and keep your information secure.
1. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly
One of the easiest ways to detect fraud early is by keeping a close eye on your financial accounts. Check your bank statements, credit card transactions, and online banking accounts frequently. Look for:
Unrecognized charges or withdrawals.
Duplicate transactions.
Alerts for changes to your account information.
ICCU members can take advantage of our online and mobile banking features, which make it simple to monitor your accounts and receive real-time alerts for suspicious activity.
2. Protect Your Personal Information
Your personal information is the key to your financial security. Keep it safe by:
Avoiding Oversharing: Don’t share sensitive details, like your Social Security number, birthdate, or bank account info, unless absolutely necessary.
Using Strong Passwords: Create unique passwords for each account and update them regularly. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols for added security.
Securing Documents: Shred old bank statements, credit card offers, and any paperwork with sensitive information before discarding them. Documents that you would like to shred can be brought to any ICCU office to be shred professionally.
3. Be Cautious Online
Cybercriminals use phishing emails, fake websites, and social media scams to trick you into revealing personal details. Stay vigilant by:
Verifying Links: Hover over links in emails or messages before clicking to ensure they’re legitimate.
Avoiding Public Wi-Fi: Use a secure network or a VPN when accessing sensitive information online.
Recognizing Scams: Be wary of messages claiming you’ve won a prize or need to provide information urgently. Scammers often use urgency to trick you.
4. Take Advantage of Fraud Prevention Tools
At ICCU, we offer tools to help you stay one step ahead of fraud. For example:
Lock Your Cards: If you suspect suspicious activity, lock your debit or credit cards instantly through online banking.
Set Up Alerts: Get notifications for transactions, low balances, or changes to your account.
Credit Score & More Tool: Monitor your credit score and receive alerts for any changes, so you can detect identity theft early.
Stay One Step Ahead
Fraud prevention is all about staying informed and taking proactive measures. By monitoring your accounts, safeguarding your personal information, being cautious online, and using fraud prevention tools, you can protect yourself and your finances.
If you ever suspect fraudulent activity on your ICCU accounts, contact us immediately. Together, we can keep your personal information safe and secure. For more tips and tools, visit our fraud prevention resource center or stop by one of our branches.
Isabella Community Credit Union ∙ 989∙773∙5927